"It is estimated that the number of adherents of Buddhism comprise around 6% of the world's population (Barret, 25), although this figure is difficult to gauge because of Buddhism's ability to assimilate itself into a culture... "

"With about 350 million people identified as Buddhists in the countries of Asia, it continues to have a crucial role in shaping the religious life of the world, and it has grown constantly in importance in modern America. "

Buddhism

world

300,000,000

-

-

-

1994

Yenne, Bill. 100 Men Who Shaped World History. San Francisco, CA: Bluewood Books (1994); pg. 13.

"Of the great organized world religions with the largest number of adherents today, two--Judaism and Hinduism--trace their roots to antiquity and as such have no specific founder. The other three--Buddhism, Christianity and Islam--were all established in historical times by specific persons... After his death, his followers spread throughout Asia, finding a greater proportion of adherents in China, Japan and Southeast Asia than in India. Today, there are almost 300 million Buddhists in the world, 99.5 percent of them in Asia. "

Buddhism

world

323,894,016

5.67%

-

-

1995

The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1997 (K-111 Reference Corp.: Mahwah, NJ), [Source: 1996 Encyc. Britannica Book of the Year]; pg. 646.

Table: "Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-1995 "

"There are over 3 million Buddhists worldwide... More than 85% of the population of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand is Buddhist, as is more than 70% of that in Cambodia, Laos, and Japan. " NOTE: The 3 million figure is obviously a typographical error.

"Nearly all Cambodian Americans are Buddhist... Whereas in 1979 there were only 3 Cambodian temples in the US, by 1990 there were more than 50. Most Buddhist temples in the US are in houses or apartments, but there are a few traditional temples with attached monasteries, such as the large complex in Maryland. "

"Nearly all Cambodian Americans are Buddhist... Whereas in 1979 there were only 3 Cambodian temples in the US, by 1990 there were more than 50. Most Buddhist temples in the US are in houses or apartments, but there are a few traditional temples with attached monasteries, such as the large complex in Maryland. "

"Today the T'ien-t'ai and the Pure Land Schools are still the strongest in China... Of the 738,000 monks and nuns, 267,000 temples, some 3,000,000 'home disciples,' and an unknown number of Buddha-worshipers in China... "

"Butsudan: Buddhist altar, found in the home of the senior living member of a family. This currently amounts to about 60% of Japanese homes... The institution of the butsudan reflects, as well as an expression of attachment to the deceased and filial piety, a widespread belief in the continuing existence of the personality after death... "

"Until recently, nearly every home was equipped with a kamidana god shelf with Shinto symbols, or else a butsudan Buddhist household altar containing memorials for the family's ancestors, before which offerings of flowers, food, drink or incense are made daily. Many had both. "

"The overwhelming majority of Cambodians are Buddhists. Before the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975, there were over 3,000 monasteries in the country and more than 64,000 monks. Life in the countryside was closely bound to the local temple, and monks were highly respected figures. "

"The overwhelming majority of Cambodians are Buddhists. Before the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975, there were over 3,000 monasteries in the country and more than 64,000 monks... Pol Pot's regime disbanded all the temples, and Buddhist monks became prime targets for persecution. The vast majority of the monks were executed or died from overwork and lack of food while being forced to work in the countryside. Perhaps as few as 2,000 monks survived the Pol Pot Years of 1975-79. "

"Before the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975, there were over 3,000 monastaries in the country and more than 64,000 monks... Pol Pot's regime disbanded all the temples, and Buddhist monks became prime targets of persecution. The vast majority of the monks were executed... Perhaps as few as 2,000 monks survived the Pol Pot years of 1975-79. "

Buddhism - monastic

China

750,000

-

-

-

1945

Cousins, L. S. "Buddhism " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984]; pg. 328.

"In modern times, before Communist rule, the Chinese Buddhist Sangha was quite large--of the order of half a million monks and a quarter of a million nuns. "

"Today the T'ien-t'ai and the Pure Land Schools are still the strongest in China... Of the 738,000 monks and nuns, 267,000 temples, some 3,000,000 'home disciples,' and an unknown number of Buddha-worshipers in China... "

"The earliest of the imported religions, Buddhism, came from India in the first century B.C. Before the Communist takeover in 1949, the followers of Buddha supported half a million monks and nuns; 40,000 temples and monasteries dotted the land, along with uncounted statues of Buddha, some of them monumental. Since then, the number of clerics has shrunk, but the great yearly festivals go on. "

"In 1949, the year the People's Republic of China was founded, there were approximately 500,000 Buddhist monks and nuns, and 50,000 temples and monasteries. A number of well-known Buddhist temples were classified as historical monuments. "

"Each year government expenses for Buddhist and various religious services accounted for more than one-half of its total expenditure! In 1292 it was said that altogether there were 42,318 Buddhist temples and monasteries and 213,148 monks and nuns. "

Buddhism - monastic

Tibet

-

16.50%

-

-

1950

Welles, Sam. The World's Great Religions, New York: Time Incorporated (1957); pg. 55.

"In Tibet, where, at the time of Red China's occupation in 1950, a third of the male population was in Buddhist monasteries and where Buddhist piety was deeper... "

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